Sports Business News Roundup – June

Hold onto your hats, sports biz fanatics, because the game just got a whole lot more interesting. We’ve got shakeups in the agency world, a tech giant diving headfirst into baseball’s London takeover, and a whole lot more brewing. So grab your coffee (or energy drink, we don’t judge) and let’s dive into the latest sports business headlines.

Team Playmaker Enters the Game

New kid on the block alert! Former CSM bigwigs Ross Meltzer and Matt Grandis are teaming up again (see what we did there?) to launch a shiny new marketing agency, Team Playmaker. This powerhouse venture, nestled under the Winners Alliance umbrella, is ready to make some serious waves in the industry.

Third-Party Sales and Beyond

Team Playmaker isn’t just your average marketing agency. They’re all about that third-party sales life, connecting brands, media, and properties like a well-oiled machine. But wait, there’s more! These guys are also pros in research, strategy, and asset creation. They’re basically the Swiss Army knife of sports marketing.

A Winning Lineup of Expertise

From agency sponsorships and athlete marketing to content creation and those sweet, sweet jersey-patch sales, Team Playmaker has got all the bases covered. They even dabble in naming rights, events, and activation. Basically, if it’s got to do with sports marketing, they’re your people.

Hitting the Ground Running

Team Playmaker isn’t wasting any time building an impressive roster of clients. They’ve already snagged partnerships with Winners Alliance heavyweights like the Professional Tennis Players Association, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association, and even track and field legend Michael Johnson’s upcoming venture. Talk about a power move!

Wasserman’s North American Sales Strategy Remains Unclear

Speaking of power moves, Team Playmaker’s grand entrance has everyone wondering: what’s the deal with Wasserman’s North American sales strategy? After their big-time acquisition of CSM, all eyes have been on the agency giant, especially in the North American market.

Overseas Dominance, North American Mystery

While Wasserman’s killing it with their sales game overseas, their North American presence is still a bit of a head-scratcher. It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube after a few too many energy drinks – confusing and a little dizzying.

A New Sales Team on the Horizon?

Hold your horses, folks, because Matt Vandrau, the top dog at Wasserman/EMEA and APAC, says they’re planning to assemble a brand-spanking new sales team in North America soon. Could this be the missing piece of the puzzle? Only time will tell, but we’ll be watching (and sipping our coffee) with great interest.

MLB London Series Sees Zoom Take Center Stage

Zoom’s not just for your work meetings anymore, folks! The video conferencing giant is stepping up to the plate (pun intended) as a major sponsor for the MLB London Series, where the Phillies and Mets will be battling it out across the pond.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, on the Helmets!

Get ready to see that iconic Zoom logo plastered everywhere at London Stadium, from those shiny batting helmets to signage all over the place. They’re even weaseling their way onto the official Series logo! It’s like a Zoom invasion, but hey, at least we can all virtually attend from the comfort of our couches (and maybe in our pajamas).

A Global Home Run for MLB

The London Series, along with games in South Korea, Mexico City, and the Dominican Republic, is part of MLB’s most ambitious international schedule yet. Looks like America’s favorite pastime is going global, baby!

Sports Business News Roundup – June

Hold onto your hats, sports biz fanatics, because the game just got a whole lot more interesting. We’ve got shakeups in the agency world, a tech giant diving headfirst into baseball’s London takeover, and a whole lot more brewing. So grab your coffee (or energy drink, we don’t judge) and let’s dive into the latest sports business headlines.

Team Playmaker Enters the Game

New kid on the block alert! Former CSM bigwigs Ross Meltzer and Matt Grandis are teaming up again (see what we did there?) to launch a shiny new marketing agency, Team Playmaker. This powerhouse venture, nestled under the Winners Alliance umbrella, is ready to make some serious waves in the industry.

Third-Party Sales and Beyond

Team Playmaker isn’t just your average marketing agency. They’re all about that third-party sales life, connecting brands, media, and properties like a well-oiled machine. But wait, there’s more! These guys are also pros in research, strategy, and asset creation. They’re basically the Swiss Army knife of sports marketing.

A Winning Lineup of Expertise

From agency sponsorships and athlete marketing to content creation and those sweet, sweet jersey-patch sales, Team Playmaker has got all the bases covered. They even dabble in naming rights, events, and activation. Basically, if it’s got to do with sports marketing, they’re your people.

Hitting the Ground Running

Team Playmaker isn’t wasting any time building an impressive roster of clients. They’ve already snagged partnerships with Winners Alliance heavyweights like the Professional Tennis Players Association, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association, and even track and field legend Michael Johnson’s upcoming venture. Talk about a power move!

Expanding the Playing Field

But these go-getters aren’t stopping there. They’ve got their sights set on conquering new verticals like endurance sports, global football (that’s soccer for us Yanks), and even the high-octane world of Formula . With their ambition and expertise, it seems like the sky’s the limit for Team Playmaker.

Industry Heavyweights on Board

And if that wasn’t enough, Team Playmaker has assembled an advisory board that reads like a who’s who of the sports biz world, featuring legends like Harlan Stone and Lawton Logan. Talk about a dream team! With this level of experience and connections, it’s safe to say Team Playmaker is here to stay and shake things up.

Wasserman’s North American Sales Strategy Remains Unclear

Speaking of power moves, Team Playmaker’s grand entrance has everyone wondering: what’s the deal with Wasserman’s North American sales strategy? After their big-time acquisition of CSM, all eyes have been on the agency giant, especially in the North American market.

Overseas Dominance, North American Mystery

While Wasserman’s killing it with their sales game overseas, their North American presence is still a bit of a head-scratcher. It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube after a few too many energy drinks – confusing and a little dizzying.

A New Sales Team on the Horizon?

Hold your horses, folks, because Matt Vandrau, the top dog at Wasserman/EMEA and APAC, says they’re planning to assemble a brand-spanking new sales team in North America soon. Could this be the missing piece of the puzzle? Only time will tell, but we’ll be watching (and sipping our coffee) with great interest.

MLB London Series Sees Zoom Take Center Stage

Zoom’s not just for your work meetings anymore, folks! The video conferencing giant is stepping up to the plate (pun intended) as a major sponsor for the MLB London Series, where the Phillies and Mets will be battling it out across the pond.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, on the Helmets!

Get ready to see that iconic Zoom logo plastered everywhere at London Stadium, from those shiny batting helmets to signage all over the place. They’re even weaseling their way onto the official Series logo! It’s like a Zoom invasion, but hey, at least we can all virtually attend from the comfort of our couches (and maybe in our pajamas).

A Global Home Run for MLB

The London Series, along with games in South Korea, Mexico City, and the Dominican Republic, is part of MLB’s most ambitious international schedule yet. Looks like America’s favorite pastime is going global, baby!

More Than Just Zoom

But Zoom’s not the only one cashing in on this international baseball extravaganza. Brands like BuildSubmarines.com (because who doesn’t love a good submarine?), JTB (Japan’s biggest travel agency, for when you want to catch a game in person), and even Google Cloud are getting in on the action. It seems like everyone wants a piece of that sweet, sweet London Series pie.

Accenture Scores Sponsorship Deal with MI New York

Hold on to your cricket bats, folks, because we’ve got a tech giant stepping into the ring (or should we say pitch?). Accenture, the global consulting powerhouse, just inked a three-year shirt sponsorship deal with Major League Cricket’s reigning champs, MI New York. Talk about a match made in heaven (or at least a boardroom)!

Tech Meets Cricket: A Winning Combination?

This isn’t just some random sponsorship deal, people. This is a strategic move by Accenture to tap into the ever-growing popularity of cricket, especially among the South Asian demographic – a group that just so happens to be killing it in the tech industry. It’s a win-win for both sides, really.

Leverage Agency: The Mastermind Behind the Deal

But let’s give credit where credit’s due. This power play wouldn’t have been possible without the matchmaking skills of Leverage Agency, who brokered the deal for MI New York. These guys are like the Tinder of the sports sponsorship world, connecting brands and teams for that perfect match.

Marianne Rotole Takes on Chief Growth Officer Role at Octagon

Big news in the agency world, folks! Octagon Marketing/North America just appointed Marianne Rotole as their Chief Growth Officer, a fancy new title for a seriously badass lady.

Leading the Growth Charge

Marianne’s not just here to make coffee runs, people. She’s taking charge of all things agency marketing and overseeing a team of four business development gurus. Talk about a boss move!

Juggling Client Needs and Growth Strategies

But wait, there’s more! On top of her new responsibilities, Marianne will continue to manage client teams for major players like GEICO and Bank of America. Is there anything this woman can’t do?

Capitalizing on the Global Sports Boom

Marianne sees a golden opportunity in the influx of major international sporting events hitting the U.S. soil, like the FIFA World Cup and the LA Olympics. And she’s ready to capitalize on it, baby! With her leadership and strategic vision, Octagon is poised for some serious growth in the coming years.

Speed Reads

Because we know you’re busy and important, here’s a quick rundown of other noteworthy sports biz happenings:

• Sports marketing agency Two Circles is diving headfirst into the world of college sports, with a special focus on those sweet, sweet NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities.
• LIV Golf just snagged Adam Harter as their new CMO, while MLS welcomed Radhika Duggal as their marketing maestro. Congrats, guys!
• The PWHL (that’s the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association, for the uninitiated) wrapped up their first season with a bang, scoring over 40 league and team sponsors. Way to go, ladies!
• The Belmont Stakes is getting fancy with new sponsors like DraftKings, Rivers Casino, and Ford. Looks like it’s going to be a wild ride (literally)!
• A new study is shedding light on the cities with the strongest connections between companies and their sponsored sports teams.
• Chris Lencheski, a veteran in the sports marketing game, just launched his own global advisory firm, SKI Partners. Because who doesn’t love a good acronym?
• And last but not least, the Oilers are raking in the dough with record-breaking merchandise sales during Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.

And that’s a wrap for this week’s sports business news roundup! Until next time, stay thirsty for those sponsorship deals and keep your eyes on the prize (and by prize, we mean those sweet, sweet marketing dollars).